Braintree

Braintree's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in work life and religion.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Braintree increased by 11%, from just over 132,000 to 147,000.

The addition of just under 15,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Braintree was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fewer people worked long hours

Census 2011 data also show a change in the working patterns of many in Braintree.

The percentage of employed people in Braintree working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% in 2001 to 12% in 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Braintree decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Braintree, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Braintree

The number of people in Braintree that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 22,000 in 2001 to just over 44,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Braintree that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 98,000 in 2001 to about 90,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 10,000 (7.1%)

About 690 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 410 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Braintree increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Braintree residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.4% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Braintree residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Braintree decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Braintree, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in social renting

The percentage of socially rented homes fell in Braintree at a faster rate than in nearby Uttlesford.

In Braintree, the proportion of social housing decreased from 19% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Uttlesford decreased from 13% to 13%.

Across Eastof England, the share of socially rented homes decreased from 17% to 16%.

Private renting in Braintree increased from 6.7% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 69%.

The rate of social housing was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Braintree

The number of people in Braintree from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 130,000 in 2001 to about 140,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Braintree from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 870 in 2001 to just under 2,000 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 1.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 960 to just over 1,800 (from 0.7% to 1.3%).

Just over 910 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 380 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Braintree decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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